Southgate and England

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

The Rooney stuff is the ultimate storm in a teacup for me

It's a friendly where money is being raised for charity

Who honestly gives a toss? Which great young player is going to outrageously suffer from missing out one game against the USA of all teams?

If this was a regular thing or the team was full of veterans taking up spots then I'd understand it somewhat, but it's a one off special occasion for one player and he probably won't even play the full 90 minutes

It just seems like England and the FA can't win. If it wasn't people complaining about Rooney playing they'd be complaining about something else instead, be it the team selection or the quality of the opponents or the fact they're sick of pointless friendlies etc

Most people banging on about how this is a slight to the other players to give Rooney a cap here are probably the same people who usually complain that friendlies are a waste of time. It's only now that Rooney has gotten a call up that friendlies are suddenly incredibly important and this whole thing is a giant disgrace

Southgate and the FA have earned themselves the benefit of the doubt following the World Cup. There's no viable reason to kick off over Rooney getting one last cap FFS

 

[YoboCopter]

The Rooney stuff is the ultimate storm in a teacup for me

It's a friendly where money is being raised for charity

Who honestly gives a toss? Which great young player is going to outrageously suffer from missing out one game against the USA of all teams?

If this was a regular thing or the team was full of veterans taking up spots then I'd understand it somewhat, but it's a one off special occasion for one player and he probably won't even play the full 90 minutes

It just seems like England and the FA can't win. If it wasn't people complaining about Rooney playing they'd be complaining about something else instead, be it the team selection or the quality of the opponents or the fact they're sick of pointless friendlies etc

Most people banging on about how this is a slight to the other players to give Rooney a cap here are probably the same people who usually complain that friendlies are a waste of time. It's only now that Rooney has gotten a call up that friendlies are suddenly incredibly important and this whole thing is a giant disgrace

Southgate and the FA have earned themselves the benefit of the doubt following the World Cup. There's no viable reason to kick off over Rooney getting one last cap FFS

This
Alot more important things to worry about isnt there

 

[EFCPaul]

The Rooney stuff is the ultimate storm in a teacup for me

It's a friendly where money is being raised for charity

Who honestly gives a toss? Which great young player is going to outrageously suffer from missing out one game against the USA of all teams?

If this was a regular thing or the team was full of veterans taking up spots then I'd understand it somewhat, but it's a one off special occasion for one player and he probably won't even play the full 90 minutes

It just seems like England and the FA can't win. If it wasn't people complaining about Rooney playing they'd be complaining about something else instead, be it the team selection or the quality of the opponents or the fact they're sick of pointless friendlies etc

Most people banging on about how this is a slight to the other players to give Rooney a cap here are probably the same people who usually complain that friendlies are a waste of time. It's only now that Rooney has gotten a call up that friendlies are suddenly incredibly important and this whole thing is a giant disgrace

Southgate and the FA have earned themselves the benefit of the doubt following the World Cup. There's no viable reason to kick off over Rooney getting one last cap FFS

The charity aren't seeing any extra money mate, the FA are keeping all the gate revenue. The money for Rooney's foundation is only coming from the money people donate through text. They can raise that without playing him, just throw an advertisement across the screen and get the commentators to plug it.

It's also condescending towards the USA team. England are basically saying "this game against you matters so little we're effectively treating it like a testimonial" and that's wrong. The USMNT is in a tough place right now, their players will be motivated for this one and will want to prove to their supporters that they're getting back on track. England should respect them enough to not just play with a lax attitude, like someone turning up for work and putting in the least amount effort they can get away with.

It's all just further proof the FA is a money-making business that isn't arsed one bit about sporting integrity. If this match was sold out would this be happening? Not a chance. It wasnt even Southgate's idea and he's admitted he doesn't even know exactly how it's going to work. Will he be forced to play Rooney for a certain amount of minutes? It's farcical, no governing body should take it upon themselves to interfere in team matters like that.

It's a move that isn't about honouring a supposed legend or helping out a foundation, that's just what its been marketed as. It's been done purely to pull a few extra punters in and line the pockets of the fatcats who sit at the top. Eff the FA, the national team will never win anything until that place is completely washed out.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

The charity aren't seeing any extra money mate, the FA are keeping all the gate revenue. The money for Rooney's foundation is only coming from the money people donate through text. They can raise that without playing him, just throw an advertisement across the screen and get the commentators to plug it.

It's also condescending towards the USA team. England are basically saying "this game against you matters so little we're effectively treating it like a testimonial" and that's wrong. The USMNT is in a tough place right now, their players will be motivated for this one and will want to prove to their supporters that they're getting back on track. England should respect them enough to not just play with a lax attitude, like someone turning up for work and putting in the least amount effort they can get away with.

On top of everything it's just further proof the FA is a money-making business that isn't arsed one bit about sporting integrity. If this match was sold out would this be happening? Not a chance. It wasnt even Southgate's idea and he's admitted he doesn't even know exactly how it's going to work. Will he be forced to play Rooney for a certain amount of minutes? It's farcical, no governing body should take it upon themselves to interfere in team matters like that.

It's a move that isn't about honouring a supposed legend or helping out a foundation, that's just what its been marketed as. It's been done purely to pull a few extra punters in and line the pockets of the fatcats who sit at the top. Eff the FA, the national team will never win anything until that place is completely washed out.

It's one player who won't even play the whole game, if that's an "insult" to the USMNT then they need to have thicker skin

Rooney's only 33 as well and has been scoring for fun in MLS, the USA's home league

It's not like they've dug Gary Pallister out of the moth balls to give him a run out. Rooney is still of playing age and is still active

 

[EFCPaul]

It's one player who won't even play the whole game, if that's an "insult" to the USMNT then they need to have thicker skin

If I was taking something seriously and the other person involved in it with me wasn't taking it seriously at all I'd feel miffed. If England can't be bothered with doing this match properly like all the others why did they even book it in the first place? This is meant to be an official Fifa approved game, if you want laid back kick around then organise a legends game instead.

The FA are arrogant and ignorant to their core.

 

[Parker]

If I was taking something seriously and the other person involved in it with me wasn't taking it seriously at all I'd feel miffed. If England can't be bothered with doing this match properly like all the others why did they even book it in the first place? This is meant to be an official Fifa approved game, if you want laid back kick around then organise that instead.

The FA are arrogant and ignorant to their core.

How can they be taking it that seriously when it isn't a competitive fixture? Christ we are apparently giving Sancho a first start, are you gonna be livid that we aren't taking the friendly fixture seriously because we are starting an 18 year old?

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

If I was taking something seriously and the other person involved in it with me wasn't taking it seriously at all I'd feel miffed. If England can't be bothered with doing this match properly like all the others why did they even book it in the first place? This is meant to be an official Fifa approved game, if you want laid back kick around then organise a legends game instead.

The FA are arrogant and ignorant to their core.

If say, England were playing Ireland in a friendly and the Irish decided to bring Robbie Keane on for the last 10 minutes to pay tribute to him for all the goals he scored for the national team, it wouldn't bother me one iota

I doubt it would bother many others either

 

[Prevenger17]

Lol mad reaction here. Let one of your best modern players have a few minutes ffs

 

[EFCPaul]

How can they be taking it that seriously when it isn't a competitive fixture? Christ we are apparently giving Sancho a first start, are you gonna be livid that we aren't taking the friendly fixture seriously because we are starting an 18 year old?

No of course not, that young lad has his whole career ahead and will be trying to showcase himself.

My issue isn't even with Rooney, it's with the FA. They're lying in what they're saying their reasoning is for doing all this. It's not about honouring a legend, it's about squeezing a bit more money out of naive punters. The same thing with Wembley, trying to sell the stadium so it can go into retirement funds and pay off debts whilst spinning a yarn about how it's going to put back into grassroots football.

They are a horrible organisation who need taking to task.

 

[EFCPaul]

If say, England were playing Ireland in a friendly and the Irish decided to bring Robbie Keane on for the last 10 minutes to pay tribute to him for all the goals he scored for the national team, it wouldn't bother me one iota

I doubt it would bother many others either

That would bother me either because England aren't a side in desperate need of a strong performance and result like the US currently are. But mostly because I'd believe that the Irish set up would geniunely being doing something like to that to honour him. Is that heck the case here, they just want a few extra pounds of his name. The FA have treated Rooney and others like crap in the past, yet now they want to be mates?

 

[duncs pigeon]

The Rooney stuff is the ultimate storm in a teacup for me

It's a friendly where money is being raised for charity

Who honestly gives a toss? Which great young player is going to outrageously suffer from missing out one game against the USA of all teams?

If this was a regular thing or the team was full of veterans taking up spots then I'd understand it somewhat, but it's a one off special occasion for one player and he probably won't even play the full 90 minutes

It just seems like England and the FA can't win. If it wasn't people complaining about Rooney playing they'd be complaining about something else instead, be it the team selection or the quality of the opponents or the fact they're sick of pointless friendlies etc

Most people banging on about how this is a slight to the other players to give Rooney a cap here are probably the same people who usually complain that friendlies are a waste of time. It's only now that Rooney has gotten a call up that friendlies are suddenly incredibly important and this whole thing is a giant disgrace

Southgate and the FA have earned themselves the benefit of the doubt following the World Cup. There's no viable reason to kick off over Rooney getting one last cap FFS

Good post mate, agree 100%

 

[BlueStevie35]

That would bother me either because England aren't a side in desperate need of a strong performance and result like the US currently are. But mostly because I'd believe that the Irish set up would geniunely being doing something like to that to honour him. Is that heck the case here, they just want a few extra pounds of his name. The FA have treated Rooney and others like crap in the past, yet now they want to be mates?

Considering they have a vital game on Sunday afternoon against the team that ended the World Cup dream, that could see them either qualify for a shot at winning a new tournament next summer (depending on the result between Croatia and Spain tomorrow) or be relegated from the top tier League, I'd say they are in need of a strong, confidence boosting performance against the US.

 

[GwladysBlue]

The Rooney stuff is the ultimate storm in a teacup for me

It's a friendly where money is being raised for charity

Who honestly gives a toss? Which great young player is going to outrageously suffer from missing out one game against the USA of all teams?

If this was a regular thing or the team was full of veterans taking up spots then I'd understand it somewhat, but it's a one off special occasion for one player and he probably won't even play the full 90 minutes

It just seems like England and the FA can't win. If it wasn't people complaining about Rooney playing they'd be complaining about something else instead, be it the team selection or the quality of the opponents or the fact they're sick of pointless friendlies etc

Most people banging on about how this is a slight to the other players to give Rooney a cap here are probably the same people who usually complain that friendlies are a waste of time. It's only now that Rooney has gotten a call up that friendlies are suddenly incredibly important and this whole thing is a giant disgrace

Southgate and the FA have earned themselves the benefit of the doubt following the World Cup. There's no viable reason to kick off over Rooney getting one last cap FFS

Following the World Cup? England got beaten by the only decent teams they met in it!

 

[Zatara]

Surprised there havent been mkre withdrawals for the match...could have opened a door for Leon 'Ossie' Osman to win another cap.

 

[Billy Dean]

If say, England were playing Ireland in a friendly and the Irish decided to bring Robbie Keane on for the last 10 minutes to pay tribute to him for all the goals he scored for the national team, it wouldn't bother me one iota

I doubt it would bother many others either

Germany offered Ballack something similar when he retired. IIRC Ballack turned it down because he was still better about how he lost his place in the team post 2010.